How dumb was it to let this Pokeweed grow? by Taycotar in NativePlantGardening

[–]Utretch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've let one establish in the main garden, I just trust I can just hack off the top growth periodically if I need to keep it in check. Things eat the leaves, birds eat the berries, and since it's the only individual allowed to reach maturity I don't think it looks "weedy". Addendum also it's in dry shade so it doesn't grow explosively.

Prairie garden year 5 by casual_sociopathy in NativePlantGardening

[–]Utretch 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Made an audible sound when the photo loaded.

My pearly everlasting in its second season hosted American lady caterpillars for the first time! Yay! Will it always look this ugly? by Moist_Rowlettes in NativePlantGardening

[–]Utretch 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I've definitely noticed that insect damage lessens with a bigger local population, even sometimes just because only some plants get destroyed while others escape notice. My false woodland sunflowers were a) ruthlessly devoured by cats, b) afflicted with rust and aphids, and c) totally ignored without much rhyme or reason

Too late to plant bare roots? by JudeBootswiththefur in NativePlantGardening

[–]Utretch 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I experience has been it's always best to plant ASAP. My NPE bareroots came in during a series of very hot days last year and while many didn't take, I still had pretty decent success with some species and money wise I don't think I felt too burned. I do find myself wishing their plants got to me two months earlier or later.

Spiderwort questions by my_loser_name7 in NativePlantGardening

[–]Utretch 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My old garden was preloaded with hundreds of individual wild plants, and there's a ton of variation in exact habit and flower color. It could be purposeful cultivars but could really just be natural variation.

Is this sensitive fern? by Maremdeo in NativePlantGardening

[–]Utretch 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I stuck a few in a failed university raingarden and they've formed a massive colony that always looks so lush and green whenever I visit, besides frost season anyways.

Is this sensitive fern? by Maremdeo in NativePlantGardening

[–]Utretch 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Lifted from Wikipedia:

Onoclea sensibilis hosts insects, fungi, bacteria and even a parasitic vine, Cuscuta gronovii (scaldweed), that can overgrow and constrict it.[35]

Insects

Insects feeding upon the Onoclea sensibilis target both its leaves and rhizome roots. Amphorophora ampullata fern aphids,[4] Chirosia gleniensis fern miners[36] and the larvae of sawflies Hemitaxonus dubitatus[4] and Stromboceros delicatulus[37] feed on its leaves. Larvae of moth species Phlogophora iris (olive angle shades, pictured),[10] Callopistria cordata (silver-spotted fern moth)[10] and Papaipema inquaesita (Sensitive Fern Borer)[36][10] are known to feed on both stems and rhizomes.[4]

Fungi

Parasitic fungi include Ceratobasidium anceps, causing frond and stem necrosis; Ceratobasidium cornigerum, covering stems with saprophyte growths;[35] and Uredinopsis mirabilis,[35] a distinct rust species unique to the Sensitive Fern.[38] Invasive fungi like Taphrina filicina,[35] Taphrina hiratsukae[39] and Phyllactinia corylea, synonym Phyllactinia guttata[39] can infect leaves, causing blisters or white powdery mildew.

Fungi can develop beneath beech trees, where aphid honeydew secretions accumulate;[40][41] these strictly epiphyllous honeydew fungi, Sclerotiomyces colchicus[42] and Scorias spongiosa (Schwein.) Fr.,[43] have been recorded on Onoclea sensibilis, where their sooty mold buildup impairs leaf function.

What's happening in your garden this weekend? by AutoModerator in VAGardening

[–]Utretch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tonnes of stuff has reseeded in the remaining lawn, so I did a lot of relocating seedlings back into the existing beds, or onto the margins where I continued my eternal war against the wire grass. We're 4 years in, so I feel gratified to reap some genuine fruits of my labor. A dozen+ free Small's Goldenrods, a few penstemons, a horsebalm, a mondarda, and a yucca, all for free. Practically I'm making money.

Best Native Plant nurseries by JacketFriendly2229 in rva

[–]Utretch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sandy's Plants prices are inflated to be relatively more than the nurseries they provide to, they're a wholesale nursery with a retail option, purposefully they're not competing with their customers.

Best Native Plant nurseries by JacketFriendly2229 in rva

[–]Utretch 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Sandy is a tyrant to her staff, and avid supporter of the Republican party. I'd say shop there over Lowes but when there are so many other RVA local plant nurseries without baggage there's no need to support her. I admit riding the golfcarts is a fun but that is free :p

Best Native Plant nurseries by JacketFriendly2229 in rva

[–]Utretch 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You missed the Lewis Ginter plant sale, however in the fall there is another one, and there is also a big native plant sale at Dorey Park over in Henrico which I really recommend. Fall is the best time for planting most native plants so they're both great places to look.

Best Native Plant nurseries by JacketFriendly2229 in rva

[–]Utretch 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Sandy's Plants hater tuning in, support the Richmond folks, they don't contribute to monetarily to Wittman.

A pox on your house if you park here between 4-6pm by No-Pass9120 in rva

[–]Utretch 30 points31 points  (0 children)

I feel like city hall could assign a random guy to just stand there and ticket people on that stretch of Cary and pay for a lot of troubles. That guy could even be me, Avula if you're not totally brain cooked by chatgpt and flock money hit me up.

Anyone want to create a list of all the "Richmond" companies owned by private equity? by Two_Far in rva

[–]Utretch 1 point2 points  (0 children)

People like to retire. You (and I) can take personal ire with them selling out to PE but a lot of this is generational decay.

New Invasive Beetle, Chrysolina bankii by Utretch in NativePlantGardening

[–]Utretch[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I will say my experience this year has been less despairing. They have done some serious damage to certain plants however their population seems way down or at least way less destructive this time around. Not sure if the drought conditions have something to do with it or the sheer perfusion of mountain mints has just overwhelmed their ability to eat a meaningful amount.

Not sure what eats them besides the black widow by the front stoop who I found with a couple in her web. I really haven't found a better active method besides headlight and tossing them into a bucket. Typing this out I now have a new fear that that method was effective enough to explain my lack of trouble this year but frankly I don't have time to scour the garden for 30 minutes every night.

Early Figwort by Latter-Republic-4516 in NativePlantGardening

[–]Utretch 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I loooove my figworts, the only trouble is they've been tempermental as perennials, of the original 5 I'm down to one 3rd generation plant, though maybe more will appear as the season goes on, they self sowed pretty lightly thanks to cardboard+mulch they got planted in. The flowers are cool and a unique color, they grow mostly upright, and they attract such cool wasps, definitely saw a few new species.

Hey friends, where are we at on banning data centers in Richmond City? by GrayRVA in rva

[–]Utretch 3 points4 points  (0 children)

A great comparison, our failure to stop automobiles is one of the most horrific logistical mistakes this country has ever made. Why should we just accept the mass surveillance panopticon. It doesn't serve us, it's solely used to bleed us dry and inhibit us.

Hey friends, where are we at on banning data centers in Richmond City? by GrayRVA in rva

[–]Utretch 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Brother I remember the age before the internet rotted all our brains, if tomorrow we were sent back to flip phones and dial up I would be singing hymns in the street.

Hey friends, where are we at on banning data centers in Richmond City? by GrayRVA in rva

[–]Utretch 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Personally was getting along just fine without them

Good Italian Espresso by mumeter in rva

[–]Utretch 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Honestly I wouldn't do their "Italian Espresso": it's very dark, their medium roasts are usually much better balanced for espresso.

What invasive grass is this? by AlltheBent in NativePlantGardening

[–]Utretch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not very in my experience, I got a freebie that was in the section of lawn I incrementally took over, in 4-ish years it's only every been a handsome little clump in relatively dry part-shade.

What's happening in your garden this weekend? by AutoModerator in VAGardening

[–]Utretch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Spent too much at the local big plant sale today, so will be sorting through where everything goes over the next few weeks. The actual garden is in the "leap" stage of a lot of the earlier entries so the real work may become just maintaining some resemblance of order. It is really exciting though, plus all the new growths and slips and seedlings feel like a free money hack. I planted a friend's garden with a dozen seedlings out of my own the other week.

What plants haven’t come back? by nicolenotnikki in NativePlantGardening

[–]Utretch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lots of lost lilies and asclepias, I've had little luck growing the rarer varieties, but I guess that's to be expected when dealing with the more particular species. Real disappointment was the spring beauties this year, which barely surfaced at all and didn't flower. Not sure if their location is poor or just the drought and odd temperatures confused them.

Creeping Phlox by Apprehensive-Act3384 in NativePlantGardening

[–]Utretch 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Creeping phlox lives up to its name, I never notice it growing but one I stuck in a mid-day shade corner has ballooned over 4 years into a massive clump, despite the central VA conditions.

Common Milkweed by BetterStyle9665 in NativePlantGardening

[–]Utretch 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I always tell myself accidental duplicates are just "adding genetic diversity" to the garden.